A4LD converter

[Dave]

Does an A4LD converter have a drain plug like the good ol' C6? Thanks.

Dave

 

[2manyfords]

None of the A4LD's I've delt with had converter drain plugs.

 

[Dave]

I need to change the fluid and want to do a thorough job. Now what? Any suggestions?

Garage's that have a flushing machine claim to do a thorough job. Does it work? Good points? Bad points? The thing that worries me is that the garages that have the machines are the types of places I would not want to work on my vehicles.....BJ's, Sam's Club, Cottman, etc.

Dave

 

[exbass94]

Almost any garage should have a flush machine. They do a very good job and replace virtually all of the fluid. Plan on spending about $100 total to have this done. I recommend having this done, especially if the fluid hasn;t been changd in a long time.

 

[red85]

Trans flushes are always a good idea. The machine that I use hooks up to the air line and has a 20L reservoir. I take the pan and filter off of the tranny and put a jumbo drainer underneath, put the machine to pump mode and attach the reservoir to the pump pickup and run the vehicle until the fluid that's pumping out is nice and red. This machine gets all of the old fluid out. If you're nervous about the shop you're going to, then go to a place that is a transmission shop. They're set up for doing this stuff and they'll do a good job.

 

[projectnitemare]

Yes a flush is a good idea. If you want to skimp on the garage fee here is what you do. Pull the pan, change the filter and reinstall the pan. Add 5 quarts or so, unhook the return line after the cooler. Get a friend to add fluid as soon as you fire the engine, pump around 8 quarts though. Kill the engine, reinstall the line, check the fluid, add til full. Light it up, run through the gears, check fluid, done. Pretty much the same as a flushing machine just more chance of a big mess. If you aren't comfortable doing that then it is worth the shop fee. We charge $125 out the door for a flush, filter and fluid change.

Matt

 

[fordwheelinman]

trans flushes are NOT always a good idea. If you have a high mileage vehicle, and the transmission has never been serviced, a trans flush is NOT a good idea. Using a power flush machine will remove the varnish that has built up inside the transmission. WHILE this sounds bad (and kind of is) it is also good. With parts wear, the varnish helps to keep everything within acceptable tolerances and clearances. When you remove that varnish by power flushing, you increase the those clearances beyond working and acceptable maximums. This in turn causes massive component wear, and ultimately transmission failure. In some cases, failure has occurred within a month or two of having performed a transmission flush. That is why even at the dealership, the service advisor, shop foreman, my fellow technicians, and myself will never suggest a flush for high mileage transmissions that have not been serviced regularly.

 

[projectnitemare]

I agree 100%. If it has been used and abused no flush or fuild change will help; just make it worse.

Matt

 

[fordwheelinman]

if its high mileage and never been flushed, you can still drop the pan and let it drain, then change the filter and refill the trans. That shouldn't cause any problems, but what it will do is give you an indication of the condition of the internal parts. drain the fluid into a clean pan, and pay attention to what comes out to see if there is a lot of metal sparkles in it or not. then once you have it out, check the magnet inside the pan for the amount of metal particles that found their way into the pan. Large amount of flake, and large amounts of build up on the magnet could be a sign of problems to come.